FTD Florist

Tips On Sending The Perfect Bouquet Of Flowers

2009-05-15T03:55:00.000-07:00

Flowers are a way to let someone know you care, so it is no wonder that sending flowers is such a popular way to commemorate events, from the birth of a new baby to Valentine?s Day. In fact, flowers are also the top choice for letting someone know you?re sorry. However, not all flower bouquets are as nice as the rest. Before you send someone flowers, you may want to do a bit of research.

Before you do anything else, take some time to think about the type of flowers that this person enjoys. While most people love red roses, there are a few who prefer colorful wildflower bouquets or exuberant sunflowers instead.

Next, take a look at the different arrangements available. Some come in beautiful vases or include collectibles as part of the arrangement. Others come in simple vases that let the flowers shine.

After you choose the flowers you want, it is time to send them to that special someone, right? Well, while you may be ordering from a reputable florist, that florist may not be the person actually choosing, arranging, and delivering the flowers. Instead, when flowers are being delivered to someone some distance away, the florist passes the task of filling the order onto a local florist. Ask who will be doing the actual delivery and find out if that florist has a good reputation.

Once you send the flowers to the recipient, don?t be afraid to follow up. Many times, a disappointing bouquet is delivered, but the person who received it may be afraid to offend the giver, so doesn?t say anything. If you mention that you want to be sure the arrangement looks fresh and that it contains the proper number of flowers, the recipient will probably be much more forthcoming about the condition of the bouquet. If it sounds like there is a problem, follow up with the florist where you placed your order and the florist who filled it. After all, the person getting your bouquet should get what you paid for.

Finally, you may want to consider sending a very different type of flower, a living plant. This way, your gift will continue to remind that lucky someone of the event the flowers were sent to commemorate long after a fresh bouquet would be a distant memory. If you are sending flowers to someone with a black thumb, you may want to try sending a dried floral arrangement instead.
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for FlowerSendingSecrets.com. To learn more about floral arrangements and sending flowers visit us.

How to make a wedding bouquet that is interesting and unusual

2009-05-09T03:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed how most bouquets look the same? Sure, they look beautiful, but they don't really have much variety.

They usually contain flowers and some type of greenery.

But who ever said that bouquets only had to contain flowers and greenery?

Why can't they contain something a bit more exciting?

Like what? I can hear you asking.

Well you can try anything really, it is only limited by your imagination.

Most brides spend hours thinking about what flowers they want in their bouquets and then what flowers they want as accents to the focal flower.

I wonder what what would happen if they had something else to choose from, instead of just flowers?

Does the person you are making the bouquet for have a favourite thing that they would love to carry down the isle?

You should always ask your bride what they would like in their bouquet because it doesn't have to be flowers.

There are plenty of other things you can add, such as: - toy cars - toy trains - toy aeroplanes - miniature teddy bears - small dolls - plastic horses, cats, dogs, or birds

Some other things you could add include candy, chocolates, bubble gum, fruit, vegetables, cup cakes etc. For my own wedding, I am adding lollipops to my bouquet!

You probably think I've gone mad! But trust me, people liked to have choice and they like to feel that they are different and unusual!

And adding interesting objects to the bouquet can be a good way to get the groom more involved with the wedding. For example, if the groom is a pilot, or likes cars, how about adding some toy planes or toy cars to the bouquet? This is sure to get him more involved!

Not all brides will want to do this, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have more choice!

And just because you are adding a few different things doesn't mean you still can't have flowers. All you do is combine the two, for example, you could have seven teddy bears and nine roses. It's really up to the person getting married.

As you know, weddings can be very stressful and taxing. So why not lighten things up a little and give people something to talk about for years to come?

Peta D'Silva has been making bouquets for over 14 years. Her website has pictures of wedding bouquets as well as lots of free information on making your own bouquets, including details (and pictures) on how to make a candy bouquet

How To Make Your Own Cookie Bouquets

2009-04-22T01:11:00.000-07:00

We've all seen them. Clusters of big, gourmet cookies, individually wrapped in shiny, colored cellophane, with bows and ribbons. They come in many styles and with different treats, toys or gift items attached to or inside a basket or vase of some sort. They make a terrific and edible gift idea. After all, who doesn't love cookies? Sadly, they can be very expensive gifts, especially when considering that cookies don't cost a whole lot to bake.

Here's how to make your own cookie bouquets at home without spending a fortune!

What You Will Need:

Chopsticks or Wooden Skewers - Make sure they are heat-proof. If you're baking smaller cookies, then popsicle sticks would also work.

Cookies - Find a delicious cookie recipe that makes larger size cookies, (your favorite or your gift recipients favorite will do fine)

Container - This needs to be a sturdy container that is a bit bottom heavy, especially if you plan to include more than a few big cookies. You can try putting some pebbles in the bottom to make sure the container won't tip over, if needed. Some ideas for containers include: a coffee mug, a metal or plastic pail, a basket, a vase, a planter, cookie jar or glass jar, glass bottle, a toy or wood box of some sort, teapot, porcelain or pottery serving ware.

Cellophane - The shiny, colored kind looks best, but the colored plastic wrap you get at your local supermarket would work too.

Ribbon - The curly kind works well for this. Any colors you like.

Decorations - Anything goes! What's appropriate to the occasion and what does the gift recipient like? Some ideas include: stuffed animals, small toys, candy, balloons, fake or real flowers, stickers or whatever you find at the local craft store.

Block of styrofoam or florists foam - You know that stereo you bought last December? You probably kept the box, just search your garage for some spare, clean, stryofoam.

Something to cover up the stryofoam or florist's foam - You can use a big ribbon, some moss, plastic grass, tissue paper crumpled up or whatever else you have handy.

Instructions:

1. When you place the cookie dough on the cookie sheet, press the dough down a bit to flatten it so that it doesn't spread too much while baking and so that the stick can be inserted properly. Before you bake the cookies, you must insert the chopstick or wooden skewer into one side of each cookie. Push it in almost the length of the cookie without going out the other end. This is an important step, as if your cookie is too big and your stick is not sturdy enough, the stick won't hold it and the cookie may fall apart when you pick it up. When baking big cookies, you probably won't be able to fit more than 3 cookies with their sticks to a cookie sheet.

2. After baking the cookies with their sticks, cool the cookies thoroughly, then wrap each one with the colored cellophane. A different color for each cookie would be ok, or all the same color appropriate to the occasion. Tie each one with some curly ribbon at the base where the stick comes out of the cookie. Tie it very tightly so the cookies will stay fresh on the stick. You can adorn each cookie with additional, larger ribbons or bows at this point. When using curly ribbon, don't forget to curl it!

3. Now cut your styrofoam or florist's foam to the size of the top of the container you chose. Then fit the foam in so it is nice and tight and near the top of the container. Remember, you can place something heavier in the bottom of the container so that it does not tip over. Small pebbles work well for this. Remember that the sticks will poke through the foam and into the bottom of the container.

4. Here comes the fun part, let's assemble the cookie bouquet! Take each of your cookies and stick them through the foam so they go all the way through the foam and further, near to the bottom of the container. You can assemble the cookies in any manner you like, but most cookie bouquets have one cookie at the center that is taller than the other cookies, so keep that in mind. Decorate with additional ribbons, toys, candy, flowers, gifts etc. Each item can be attached with additional ribbon to the container or the sticks of the cookies or even with a glue gun (if appropriate).

5. Give your gift and watch the smiles! Make sure to give the bouquet as soon as possible after you have assembled it, you don't want the cookies to go stale!

Tips:

Make sure you bake enough cookies for your container, if baking small cookies, you may run out if you are filling a large container. Always bake more than enough. Surely your extras won't go to waste.

Bake both large and small cookies and use them both in the bouquet for a nice varied look, like a more traditional flower bouquet.

More Ideas:

Some cookie bouquets use cutout cookies, these can be fun to make and decorate. Use your favorite sugar cookie cutout recipe and cut into shapes appropriate for the occasion. For cutout cookies to work, you may want to double your sugar cookie recipe as the cookies need to be nice and thick for the stick to go through them. For this type of cookie, wooden skewers will work best, chopsticks may be too thick. Then decorate the cookies with frosting or icing. The icing should be the kind that hardens a little so that it won't stick to the wrapping. No need for colored cellophane with these cookies, use regular plastic wrap or clear cellophane so that the beauty of your hand decorated cookies shines through.

Remember, your cookie bouquet doesn't need to look professional, it's the homemade touch that makes it a truly special gift.

Ricky Alberta is a baker and one of the editors of Cookie-Recipes.net. Cookie-Recipes.net is a site devoted exclusively to cookie recipes. Includes a recipe exchange forum, baking tips, how to's, articles, a blog, as well as hundreds of tasty cookie recipes. http://www.cookie-recipes.net.

info@cookie-recipes.net

Candy Bouquets: How To Make A Fun Table Decoration For Your Wedding

2009-04-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

When I first started making bouquets I was always trying to find different things to use in place of flowers. One thing I found that is fun and different to use is candy.

Candy bouquets make wonderful gifts and they are a great talking point at weddings and receptions.

They are really easy to make, and the end result is always popular. This is probably because, not only are they colorful and fun, but they're edible as well!

You can make many different types of candy bouquets- In this article I will show you how to make a candy bouquet in a teracotta pot, which will look absolutely spectacular...

To make your own candy bouquet flower-pot, you will need:

- 1 Medium terracotta pot

- 1 Packet of lollipops or wrapped chocolates

- 1 Dried oasis brick

- 1 Piece of floristry wire

- 5 White roses purple centres

- 7 Purple roses

- Floristry wire and stem tape( if using chocolates)

STEP 1: Cut The Oasis

Using a piece of floristry wire to cut the oasis, so it will fit into the terracotta pot. Make sure it fits in the pot firmly as you will be pushing the lollipop sticks, flowers and leaves into it.

STEP 2: Trim The Flowers

The pot I am using is small so I will cut the flowers down. Cut just a little above half way down the stem. You do not need to wire or tape any of the flowers, just use the wire they are already on.

Note: If you are using wrapped chocolates you will need to wire and tape them.

STEP 3: Fan The Leaves

Place your leaves around the edge of the teracotta pot. If you slightly overlap the leaves you will get a nice fan effect which will make the finished pot look much more realistic.

Note: You may need to use one of the cut pieces of flower stem to put holes in the oasis for the leaves to go in.

STEP 4: Insert The Roses

Place one rose in the centre of the pot. Push the next rose in at an angle near the edge of the pot, and do the same with the next rose on the otherside of the pot. Keep doing this until all the flowers are in the pot.

STEP 5: Insert Candy and Leaves

Now all you need to do to finish the candy bouquet is to fill the bouquet in with the candy and leaves...

Place a lollipop between each flower, and keep doing this until all the lollipops are used.

If you have any more gaps fill them in with leaves and pearlies.

Step 6: Add A Ribon

As a nice finishing touch to the candy bouquet flower pot, you can place a ribbon bow around the pot. You could also paint the pot before putting the flowers in. Even add a figure of eight bow at the front edge of the pot if you wish.

A candy bouquet flower-pot makes a lovely table decoration for any occasion. The good thing about this decoration is that you can just replace the lollipops once they get eaten.

Peta D'Silva has been making bouquets for over 14 years. Her website has Pictures of wedding bouquets as well as lots of free information on making your own bouquets, including details (and pictures) on How to make a candy bouquet

How To Choose The Best Autumn Wedding Bouquets

2009-03-17T00:47:00.000-07:00

There are of course a number of things any wedding planner must do when planning the perfect celebration, but finding the right autumn wedding bouquet is one of the most important parts of any fall wedding.

As autumn weddings become more and more popular, more and more wedding planners are looking for wedding bouquets that include the most beautiful and fragrant fall blossoms.

Ensure That You Get the Best Selection Of Flowers

There are certainly many such fragrant fall blossoms to choose from, and it is important for those in search of a great autumn wedding bouquet to shop carefully, and to shop as early as possible.

Shopping early is one of the best ways to ensure the best selection of fall flowers, and shopping around is one of the best ways to ensure that you get the best deal.

Understanding All Of Your Options

It is important to carefully look at all the options when it comes to shopping for the best and most cost effective autumn wedding bouquets.

For instance, in some cases the florist you choose to provide flowers for the wedding reception and church will include a number of autumn wedding bouquets at no additional charge, while in other cases each autumn wedding bouquet will be at an additional price.

It is important to get a detailed list of which flowers are included and which will be extra, and to get everything in writing.

Using One Or More Florist To Do The Job

In some cases additional floral arrangements such as centerpieces and wedding bouquets will be included in the price of the flowers, so it is important to find out this information before going forward.

If the price of the autumn wedding bouquet is not included, the next step should be to determine whether you want the same florist to handle the bouquets, the centerpieces and the rest of the flowers.

Some wedding planners enjoy the simplicity of having all the flowers done by the same florist, while others prefer to spread the work across several different florists. No matter what your choice, it is important to shop early, and to carefully consider not only price but quality as well.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on wedding planning topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.best-wedding-plan.com/autumn-wedding-bouquets.html.

How To Make A Bouquet Completely Out Of Candy

2009-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

There are lots of different types of candy bouquets you can make. One way is to make a normal bouquet out of flowers, and then add candy afterwards. Another type of candy bouquet is one made JUST out of candy.

In this article, I will show you how to make a candy bouquet without using any flowers. Although there won't be any flowers, I will still add some leaves and ribbons to add some variety.

You will need:
- 1 box of roses chocolates.
- 7 chuppa chupps.
- 1 packet of wrapped toffee candy.
- 1 bunch of thick gauge wire for the chuppa chupps.
- 1 bunch of thin gauge wire for the chocolates.
- 1 roll of white ribbon
- 9 silk rose leaves

Step 1: Wiring and Taping...

Wire and tape all the chocolates, lollipops, toffees and leaves.

Step 2: Add the lollipops to the bouquet...

Hold the wired and taped chocolates and toffees in one hand.

Place the wired and taped lollipops around the outside of the chocolates.

Because the lollipops are on a stronger wire this will help the candy bouquet hold it's shape.

Step 3: Prepare Figure-of-Eight bows...

Next make up nine figure of eight bows out of ribbon.

These will be arranged around the outside of the candy bouquet to help frame it.

Step 4: Add leaves...

At this point you can add your leaves throughout the bouquet. This puts something between the pieces of candy, and helps to soften the candy bouquet.

You can also make up some ribbon loops, and place them in between the candy as well.

Step 5: Add the Figure-of-Eight bows...

Place a small piece of stem tape up near the top of the candy bouquet to hold everything together.

Then add your figure of eight bows around the outside to frame the bouquet.

Step 6: Finishing Touches...

If you wish you can add some trailer ribbons to the candy bouquet.

Finally, trim your wires and do your final taping of the handle.

There you have it!

A bouquet completely made out of candy.

What a yummy idea.

This bouquet would make a lovely gift and children will love it, particularly because they can eat it!

Peta Fletcher has been making bouquets for over 14 years. Her website has lots of free information, including how to make a candy bouquet and how to make a wedding bouquet

Red Rose Bouquets

2009-03-09T02:37:00.000-07:00

A bouquet of red roses can overwhelm anyone. Its overpowering presence and fragrance can consume people, and can compel them to give the sender a second look. Red rose bouquets have the desired effect when a single red rose is just not adequate to communicate what is usually much more than just liking. That's probably why people like to send red roses when they want to apologize for being hurtful, offensive.

People often wonder what it is about red a rose bouquet that has such a dramatic effect on the recipient that even if they are hurting, they smile instantly and feel better. In fact, they are almost disarmed and become receptive to the sender even if the sender has annoyed them or hurt them beyond their tolerance level. The answer lies in the fact that receiving a red rose bouquet is an exhilarating experience. It makes the recipient feel precious as it is the ultimate expression of giving someone attention, and feels like the perfect compliment. The receiver feels as beautiful as the bouquet, as important and as loved. That's why brides love to carry red roses to the altar.

There is, however, a subtle difference between the impact of a rose bouquet received in private and one that is received in public. For instance, when a red rose bouquet is received by a spouse at the workplace, the spouse may feel really special because the public display of love will lead to greater approval and respect from colleagues. At the same time, a bouquet of red roses before a candle-lit dinner in a private dining room can also make a spouse feel rather loved.

Red rose bouquets not only bring joy, but also alleviate pain. Sending one to a friend who has just been through a painful break-up, or a parent who is unwell, or a sibling who has not been able to manage good grades, can work like a healing touch. It makes loved ones feel that there is someone to share their pain with and they are not alone in their sadness. This healing touch is particularly helpful when the sender is unable to be present physically because of work constraints, or some other unavoidable limitations. Red rose bouquets also help when an important date needs to be cancelled at the last minute because of some other exigency and the sender wants to communicate genuine regret at not being able to make it. Similarly, the red rose bouquet helps senders apologize for forgetting anniversaries and birthdays without meaning to. The red rose bouquet always says much more than words.

Dark Red Roses provides detailed information on red roses, red rose bouquets, long stem red roses, red rose petals and more. Dark Red Roses is affiliated with Black Roses.

Tips For Choosing Beautiful Fall Wedding Bouquets

2009-03-01T22:44:00.000-08:00

There are many important things that must be taken care of when planning a wedding, and the fall wedding bouquets are among the most important of all wedding items.

The right wedding bouquet is one of the most important parts of planning any wedding, and it is important to give the choice of bouquets the care and time that it so richly deserves.

Deciding Where To Buy Your Fall Wedding Bouquets

There are of course many important decisions to make when seeking out the perfect fall wedding bouquets, but one of the first decisions to make is where to get those bouquets.

Some wedding planners prefer the ease and simplicity of ordering the wedding bouquets and centerpieces from the same florist who provides the rest of the wedding flowers.

Checking To Make Sure Everything You Want Is Included In Your Floral Packages

At other times it may be more effective and easier to order the fall wedding bouquets from a separate wedding florist.

The key is to look at the florist you have chosen to provide the floral displays for the church and reception hall, and determine whether the bouquets and centerpieces they can provide will be of the same high quality.

In some cases the bouquets and centerpieces may even be included in this price, so it is important to find out this important information before shopping elsewhere for the bouquets and centerpieces.

Making Sure The Colors Are Complimentary

If you must order the centerpieces and fall wedding bouquets separately, it is important to get a color sample from the floral display in order to make sure that the colors of the bouquet will match the colors of the rest of the floral displays.

It is important to provide complimentary colors to all the bouquets, and it is also important to be sure that the florist you choose can provide the highest quality and most beautiful blooms in town.

3 Different Bouquets That DON'T Need Flowers!

2009-02-20T22:27:00.000-08:00

What do you think of when you think of bouquets?

Most people just think of flowers.

Whilst bouquets DO usually have flowers, no-one said they can't be made with other things as well. There are all sorts of different bouquets you can make, including fruit bouquets, candy bouquets, and cookie bouquets...

*** Fruit Bouquets ***

When you make a fruit bouquet, you should still use flowers, just add some fruit in as well.

Now... certain fruits will look right, while others wont. Small fruits, like apples and oranges are good, whereas bigger fruits like watermelon won't really work! For more interesting colors, something like a peach can add some interesting tones.

A fruit bouquet makes a perfect gift for someone who is sick in hospital. They'll love how it looks, and eating the fruit will help them get better!

*** Candy Bouquets ***

For a totally different look, how about a candy bouquet? Kids will love this, particularly if you put their favourite candy in it. Wrapped candies are ideal, as they can just be wired and added to the bouquet without any extra work.

Unwrapped candies can still be used though, they just need to be wrapped in cellophane... I usually use clear cellophane, but colored cellophane can be used for an interesting effect.

*** Cookie Bouquets ***

Another option is a cookie bouquet. You'll need to wrap that cookies in cellophane quite tightly to make sure the cookies don't go stale. If the cookies look nice (with big choc-chips), then clear cellophane is probably best.

Cookie bouquets will be particularly popular if you bake your own delicious cookies.

As you can see, there are quite a few different option for bouquets. There are other types of bouquets you can make as well (such as a toy bouquet!), but fruit bouquets, candy bouquets, and cookie bouquets are the most popular. Why not try and make your own today?

Peta Fletcher has been making bouquets for over 14 years. Her website has lots of free information, including information of making a candy bouquet and how to make a cookie bouquet

Tips for Finding Beautiful Fall Wedding Bouquets

2009-02-16T22:36:00.000-08:00

June has been known to be the most popular month for getting married and late spring/early summer the most popular season. However, recently the number of couples willing to have a fall wedding has been significantly increasing. The fall wedding has two great advantages over the traditional summer one - firstly, it is less expensive because of the lower demand for wedding rentals, reception, caterers; secondly it is much more beautiful, in my opinion. It is true that the weather might be a bit unpredictable but nothing can be compared with the explosion of fall colors as a background setting for the perfect wedding.

One of the most important things in a wedding is the bridal bouquet. They can be very different - from a single red rose to a splendid and very expensive bouquet of nosegays ornamented with gems and pearls. Apart from the wedding attire, the wedding bouquet is the second most important item that all the guests see. Fall wedding bouquets vary from the summer ones, not only in the types of flowers put but also the colours combined in the bouquets.

Today's modern weddings have some sort of color scheme and this is applied for autumn weddings, as well. Many fall weddings often choose orange, yellow and red into the flowers and decorations, so that they could incorporate the beauty of the marvellous fall colours. The above-mentioned colours are also used in the wedding bouquets placing the fall colour explosions in the hands of the bride.

White, yellow and orange roses are most frequently used for fall wedding bouquets, calla lilies, as well. It is a good idea when you design your fall wedding bouquet not to put too many flowers in fall colours or your bouquet will be just like the trees outside. You only have to make a hint in a shade of orange, yellow or red. You should have many white flowers in your bouquet and some fall coloured. That way you will combine contemporary colour with traditional elegance.

After you get the fall wedding bouquet set, you should concentrate on the flowers used for the ceremony and the reception. Usually all the other flowers match the wedding bouquet but don't feel obliged to follow this tradition. Of course, you should try to design the other flowers in such a way that they coordinate with the bridal bouquet. Don't forget to use your imagination and combine coordinating colors and types of flowers in a way you like it. This is how you will have fun while creating a custom feel to the flower arrangements for your wedding day.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning wedding. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Wedding Bouquets

Bridal Bouquets

2009-02-12T23:05:00.000-08:00

A display of flowers is an indispensable part of a wedding in every culture. Flowers are used in the bouquet carried by the bride, her attendants, the groom and his friends. Flowers enhance the beauty of the prayer areas, altars and the church during a wedding. While selecting bridal bouquets, it?s important to know which flowers are in season during the period of the year when the wedding date falls. Selecting seasonal flowers may help reduce costs while purchasing flowers from a florist.

Bouquets may convey a just-picked-from-the-garden look or a formal look. It?s important to achieve a good balance between the bridal gown and bouquet. At times, bouquets with a fresh-picked look may look out of place in combination with an extremely formal gown. It is also important that the bouquet size should complement the personality of the bride. A very large bouquet can sometimes overshadow the bride?s presence and the grace and style of the bridal gown.

There are times when a maid of honor or the bridesmaids may carry the bridal bouquet. Real flower bouquets are the traditional choices; however, people are also selecting silk wedding bouquets. The increase in demand for such artificial flowers is attributed to the fact that they save money and last a lifetime. Real flower bouquet prices are variable, but they usually tend to be expensive.

A wide range of bridal bouquets is available. A cascading wedding bouquet is an arrangement wherein the flowers drop downward. Bridal arm bouquet designs are to be cradled in one arm, enabling free movement of the brides other arm to hold on to her escort. Hand-tied bouquets are a simple collection of long stems, tied with a ribbon. Nosegay bridal bouquets sport a round cluster of small flowers. Spray bouquets designs contain a triangular shaped cluster of flowers and a Pomander bridal bouquet comprises of a collection of flowers hanging from the wrist by decorative ribbons. All of these are considered traditional, elegant choices that suit just about any bride or wedding.

Most bridal bouquets are made to order. Wedding event consultants and florists work hand-in-hand with a bride and her family to create the exact bouquet design as desired. Choosing a reputed florist and discussing the needs at least 6 months in advance will help in avoiding last minute pressures, and help ensure the design is correct.

Bridal Dresses provides detailed information on Bridal Dresses, Bridal Shops, Bridal Bouquets, Bridal Registry and more. Bridal Dresses is affiliated with Bridal Shower Registry.

Make someones day - send them a bouquet

2009-02-05T02:49:00.000-08:00

There are all sorts of situations where it's great to get a bouquet. Weddings are a good example, but then so are Valentine's Day, and sometimes Easter and Christmas. You might want to get a bouquet to say thank you, or even for no reason other than that you wanted to make your wife or girlfriend feel a little happier. Whatever the reason, bouquets of flowers are often well worth the cost in the happiness they bring both to the person you give them to and to the house that they're kept in.

Picking a good bouquet, though, is both an art and a science. Ideally, you should steer clear of supermarkets and other large shops that sell flowers, and instead go to a little independent florist where they know what they're doing and they can recommend something for you. Just tell them what you want the flowers for, and they should have some ideas that you can think about - it helps to have some idea in advance of which flowers the person you're getting them for does and doesn't like, but unless you know that they really love or hate a certain flower you should be quite free to experiment.

Nowadays, though, if you can't make it to a real florist, you might find it easier to order flowers by phone or over the Internet. Using the phone is probably the worst method, as you have no way of seeing the flowers before you buy them - fine if you're just getting a bunch of roses, but otherwise a disaster. At least on the web you can see pictures of each bouquet, and decide on one you like in your own time with all the pricing and other information laid out in front of you. Try to find a site that will get your local florist to deliver flowers instead of a larger supplier, as this will give the bouquet more of a personal touch.

John Gibb is the owner of bouquet resources , For more information on bouquets please check out http://www.bouquet-sources4u.info

Wonderful Tips for Creating the Perfect Silk Flower Bouquet

2009-02-02T02:53:00.000-08:00

Wonderful Tips for Creating the Perfect Silk Flower Bouquet

There are fabulous tips you should know if you want to create the perfect, flawless, impeccable flower bouquet for your home or office. This page will give you a few tips that will help you arrange your silk flowers so they will beautify your home or office and enhance your living pleasure.

Tip 1: Choose the Area of the Room First The first tip is to choose an area in the room where you will place your flower arrangement. Look at the particular area and take note of the different colors, look at the way they blend into each other, and the overall mood of the area.

To determine the mood, figure out this: Is the area vivacious, cheerful, and bright? Or is it a more quiet, relaxed, and calm part of the room? Determining this will help you pick the right combination of colors and create a flower arrangement that will flow with the room and not contrast it.

Tip 2: Silk Flowers of the Same Shade Flow Naturally When arranging silk flowers, it is best to pick flowers of the same shade. Colors of the same shade will always blend well. For example, flowers with blue petals will blend naturally with violets and purples. Take your time to determine the best possible tones.

Apart from choosing colors that naturally blend well, think about choosing different size flowers. The beauty of your artificial flowers is enhanced when the colors of your flowers flow together, but in contrast, also when your flowers are of different sizes. Try it and see how well it mingles with your room.

Tip 3: What Season will my Flowers Express? Flowers are available at different times of the year, and they look differently at the different times. In early spring, some flowers will have their buds just about to open. They look young and fresh and about to mature.

Silk flowers are also produced with different seasons in mind. The magnificent beauty of today's artificial flowers is that you can sculpture them to represent any season you desire. So, to capture the spirit of spring, you close the buds and push the leaves in to imitate a young plant about to bloom. To capture the atmosphere of late summer, you pick a few petals off, lay them on the ground, and let the leaves lean down and outward. Visit us online http://www.artificialplantsandtrees.com

Visit us online http://www.artificialplantsandtrees.com

Cookie Bouquets: How To Make A Great Mothers Day Gift.

2009-01-30T03:38:00.000-08:00

This year, instead of giving your mom a boring mothers day gift, how about making her a cookie bouquet? They are really quick and easy to make, and look great.

The best thing about making a cookie bouquet, is that your mom will absolutely love you! Cookie bouquets are appreciated all year round, but they make a particularly great mothers day gift, because your mom will know you have spent time on it, rather than just going to the store and spending 2 minutes looking for some chocolate to buy :)

Many cookie bouquets are basic, and only have cookies in them. I like to add a bit more style to my bouquets, so I'm going to show you how to make a more fancy cookie bouquet, using leaves and candies as well.

You will need:

- 9 Large choc-chip cookies

- 7 Wrapped candies

- Floristry wire

- Cellophane (Any color, although I use clear)

- Ribbon

- Stem-tape

- 15 Leaves

*** Step 1: Wire and tape the leaves ***

Start by wiring and taping the leaves...

You wire a silk leaf by pushing the floristry wire through the silk part of the leaf, behind the stem. Then loop it around, and go back through the leaf, and then bend the wire back down.

To stem-tape the wire, hold it in your left hand, and then wrap the stem tape around the wire with the other hand. Make sure that you stem-tape right up to the top of the leaf, otherwise it will look ugly.

*** Step 2: Prepare cookies to be added to the cookie bouquet ***

You don't need to wrap the cookies, but I like to, because it helps to keep them fresh. I would rather have a cookie bouquet that doesn't have to be eaten straight away, so that people can leave it on the table for everyone to look at, without worrying about the cookies going stale.

Cut the cellophane into 9 squares. Make sure the cellophane squares are large enough to wrap around the cookies.

Next wrap the cookies in the cellophane, and twist the end.

Then wire and tape the cellophane, and snip off any excess cellophane.

*** Step 3: Prepare the candies to be added to the cookie bouquet ***

Wire and stem tape the candies. Depending on the different candies you used, you might have to wrap the candies in cellophane, similar to how the cookies were prepared.

*** Step 4: Fan the cookies out in the bouquet ***

Hold the cookies in a bunch in one hand. Then bend out the wire slightly, to fan out the cookies. This will leave spaces for the leaves, which we will add in the the next step...

*** Step 5: Fill in the cookies bouquet with leaves ***

Place the leaves in the gaps in the bouquet. Fan out the leaves, so that they make a circular shape. Then squeeze the bouquet together a little. (But not too tight, as we still need to put the candies in...)

*** Step 6: Add the candies to the cookie bouquet ***

Fill in any remaining gaps with the candies prepared in step 3. Try and keep the bouquet symmetrical, but don't worry about making it perfect... a little un-evenness will make the cookie bouquet seem more natural.

*** Step 7: Tape the handle ***

To finish the cookie bouquet, just trim the ends of the wires in the handle to an even length, and then stem-tape the handle.

That's it, a cookie bouquet ready to give your mom. Write out a greeting on a mothers day card, and then give your mom the card, the cookie bouquet, and a kiss on the cheek, and I'll guarantee you'll be in her good books for a few months to come!

About the Author

Peta D'Silva has been making bouquets for over 14 years. Her website has lots of free information on bouquets, including Pictures of wedding bouquets, and information on Candy Bouquets, and Cookie Bouquets#BREAK#

Cookie Bouquet

2009-01-30T02:40:00.000-08:00

Many people like to send a cookie bouquet when it comes to birthdays or just thoughtful gifts. You can purchase a cookie bouquet online or at most bakeries and some times even a florist. However, they are not that hard to make and cost very little. In fact, they can be quite fun to make because they require a lot of creativity and vision.

If you would like to make your own cookie bouquet follow these steps. First, you will want to make simple sugar cookie dough. Some times sugar cookie dough requires some chilling so make sure you choose one that fits your time. The second step to making your cookie bouquet is to roll out your dough to around a half an inch thick. Then you can get creative. Use different shapes to make different themed bouquets. If you want it to look like flowers, try to get flower and leave shaped cutouts. You can make any shapes that you want in your bouquet, but it looks nice if there is a theme.

Next, arrange your cookies on a cookie sheet and bake as recommended. As soon as you pull, the cookies out of the oven (you will want them to be a little soft still) insert a stick in the bottom side of the cookie. You should leave your cookies on the tray for an additional five minutes because then the cookies will harden and the stick will stay. You may add more than one stick to each cookie, depending on size. If you don't think the cookie will hold up, you can put some royal frosting around the stick.

This will act like glue. Next, you can paint your cookies with frosting. Make sure the frosting is thin enough to harden. To arrange your cookie bouquet, you will need a decorative pot, Spanish moss, and floral Styrofoam. Cut the foam to fit your pot. Then you can line the top of the form with some Spanish moss. Once that is done you can begin to let your creativity flow again and arrange the cookies in the pot.

Although it sounds like a lot of work, it can be a fun activity for mother-daughter days or even as a holiday gift. The guest will appreciate the hard work you put into the cookie bouquet, you will be surprised how the creativity flowed, and the final results. If you want to make a small bouquet and fast, you may want to get dough that's already for you to roll. This can be found in the coolers of any local store. Even though you probably could purchase a cookie bouquet faster, the extra work will pay off and you'll feel good about giving it as a gift.

For more information about cookie bouquet, visit http://www.cookiebouquet-online.com

Vigdis T Andersen: http://www.cookiebouquet-online.com

How To Make A Cookie Bouquet

2009-01-24T05:39:00.001-08:00

I love making bouquets. There are so many different types you can make... Posies, wedding bouquets, candy bouquets, fruit bouquets and more.

One type of bouquet that I recently started making, is a cookie bouquet...

A cookie bouquet is a bouquet made with cookies, and leaves. They are very fun, and quite easy to make. This article shows how to make a cookie bouquet in 5 easy steps...

You will need: - 9 Chocolate chip cookies - 2 Bunches of floristry wire - Cellophane - Stem-tape - Leaves

** Step 1: Wire and tape the leaves ** Wire and tape the leaves...

Wire the leaf by pushing the wire through the silk part of the leaf, behind the stem, loop it around, and then go back through the leaf, and down to the wire.

Then stem tape the wire by holding the wire in one hand, and wrapping (and stretching), the stem tape with the other hand. Make sure to tape right up to the leaf.

** Step 2: Prepare cookies **

Cut the cellophane into 9 squares. Make sure the squares are large enough to fit a cookie.

Wrap the cookies in the cellophane, and then twist the end of the cellophane.

Now wire and tape the cellophane, and snip off any excess cellophane.

** Step 3: Fan the cookies **

Hold the cookies in a bunch in one hand. Then fan the cookies out slightly, to leave spaces for the leaves...

** Step 4: Fill in with leaves **

Start to place your leaves in between the cookies. Fan the leaves out to make a circular shape. Then squeeze the bouquet together. If you have any gaps left then you can fill them in with more leaves.

** Step 5: Prepare the handle **

Neaten the ends of the wires in the handle by trimming them with cutters.

Then stem-tape the handle, and add ribbon trailers if you wish.

That's it! You'll find any candy bouquets you make are instant hits with anyone that sees them. People just seem to LOVE cookie bouquets!

How To Make A Candy Bouquet In A Coffee Cup

2009-01-12T23:08:00.000-08:00

Oh No! Its your Aunt Sally's 60th birthday, and she's coming over to see everyone. Normally you would think this is good news, but no-one told you, and you don't have a gift for her!

Don't Panic! There's a simple gift you can make her that she will absolutely love... It's a candy bouquet in a coffee cup, and you can make one using a coffee cup, some leaves, and some flower shaped candies!

Step 1: Find a suitable coffee cup...

Most people have lots of coffee cups in their house. Maybe you have a cup from an old coffee set that got broken?

Try and find a nice looking cup, as it will ruin the effect of the candy bouquet if you use an old tacky, chipped cup!

Step 2: Prepare the coffee cup to hold the candy...

Take some dried oasis and push it into the coffee cup. If you don't have an oasis, you can stuff the cup with cellophane, but an oasis will work much better, as it will hold the flowers up much more firmly.

Before placing the oasis into the cup, place a square of cellophane in at the bottom. This will make it easier to clean later, as any flakes that fall off the oasis will be caught by the cellophane.

Step 3: Add the leaves for the candy bouquet...

Place some leaves around the outside edge of the cup. Make sure that the leaves overlap slightly as this will give a nice fanned effect. Try and space the leaves out evenly, but don't worry too much if the aren't spaced perfectly... it will make the bouquet seem more natural.

Step 4: Insert the candy flowers...

The next step is to place the candy flowers into the cup. Start in the middle and work your way out until all the candy flowers have been used. Depending on the size cup, and candy you are using, this could be anywhere between 5 to 11 candies.

Step 5: Fill the gaps with leaves...

When you give the candy bouquet to Aunt Sally, you don't want her to see the oasis inside the cup, as this will ruin the effect. So fill in any gaps where you can see through to the oasis, with leaves.

Step 6: Add some ribbon...

Personally, I like candy bouquets that have some ribbon. Place some ribbon around the cup, and maybe even add a figure-of-eight-bow to soften the bouquet a little.

That's it, all done! Very quick and easy, I think you'll agree! This Candy Bouquet looks great, and will make an ideal present for anyone, especially Aunt Sally! Just don't be surprised if it's half eaten next time you see it!

Peta D'Silva has been making bouquets for over 14 years. Her website at www.visionsofsilk.com has lots of free information on Candy Bouquets, including more details (and pictures) on How to make a candy bouquet in a coffee cup

Wedding Bouquets: Fresh Flower, or Silk?

2008-11-01T01:51:00.000-07:00

When you are thinking about the wedding bouquet you want for your wedding, the first thing you need to consider is whether you want to have fresh flowers, or silk flowers.

Don't just assume that you should get fresh flowers!

There are many good reasons for why you might choose to get silk flowers instead...

Probably the biggest benefit of silk flowers, is the cost. Usually, a silk flower bouquet will end up being considerably cheaper than a fresh flower bouquet. It's much cheaper to make a silk flower, than it is for a farmer to carefully grow a fresh flower in their garden, and then for a florist to look after it!

Another benefit of using silk flowers in your wedding bouquet, is that after you are married, you can keep the bouquet, as a reminder of the happy day. You can also keep fresh flower bouquets, but to do this they will need to be preserved, which can be quite expensive.

Finally, with silk bouquets, you can actually try making the bouquet yourself! Although it's quite easy to make bouquets, it can be hard with real flowers, and it's much easier for beginners if they are using silk flowers instead.

There are a few benefits to using real flowers though...

The main benefit is the smell. Even if you spray them with perfume, a silk bouquet will never smell as nice as a fresh flower bouquet.

Another benefit of fresh flower wedding bouquets is that there are a lot more places to buy the flowers, and it can be easier to get more variety. This depends on where you shop though. If you can find somewhere local to you that sells silk flowers, or you buy them online, then silk flowers can be just as easy to get as fresh.

But wait a second...

Aren't I forgetting the most important thing? That fresh flowers LOOK a lot better than silk?

Well, this may have been true once, but these days, it's quite easy to get beautiful silk flowers, that are indistinguishable from the real thing. I've personally made quite a few silk-flower bouquets that people have tried smelling, because they thought the flowers were real!

Ultimately it's up to you to decide what type of wedding bouquet you want. All I can suggest is that you don't jump into it, and give silk-flowers serious consideration, as they have many benefits. After all, the smell from a fresh-flower wedding bouquet will only last for a few days, anyway!

Peta D'Silva has been making wedding bouquets for over 14 years. Her website at http://www.visionsofsilk.com has lots of information on how to make bouquets, including details on How you can make a candy bouquet

How to make a wedding bouquet that is interesting and unusual

2008-10-30T04:52:00.000-07:00